Documentation

Everything you need to get started with PinchKit and OpenClaw. PinchKit = managed OpenClaw hosting, simple as that. You can self-host OpenClaw for free, or let us handle it for you.

Quick StartGitHub Repository

Documentation

External Links

OpenClaw GitHubDiscord Community

Quick Start

Get PinchKit up and running in under 5 minutes with our one-line installer.

Prerequisites

  • Linux or macOS system (Windows with WSL2)
  • Node.js 18+ installed
  • Anthropic API key (required)
  • Optional: GitHub, Vercel, other service API keys
Install PinchKit Developer:
curl -fsSL https://pinchkit.ai/install | bash
Configure your API key:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
Start OpenClaw:
openclaw start

Success! Your OpenClaw assistant is now running at http://localhost:3000

Installation Options

Self-Hosted OpenClaw

Free forever — run OpenClaw on your own server. Perfect for local development and custom setups.

GitHub Repository

PinchKit Hosting

Managed OpenClaw hosting with one-click deployment. Light ($8/mo) or Pro ($49.99/mo).

View pricing

Configuration

Environment Variables

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

Required. Your Anthropic API key for Claude access.

GITHUB_TOKEN

Optional. GitHub personal access token for repository operations.

VERCEL_TOKEN

Optional. Vercel API token for deployment operations.

Configuration File

PinchKit uses a YAML configuration file located at ~/.openclaw/config.yml

# OpenClaw Configuration
server:
  port: 3000
  host: localhost

plugins:
  - name: github
    enabled: true
  - name: vercel  
    enabled: true
  - name: render
    enabled: true

telegram:
  enabled: false
  bot_token: ""
  chat_id: ""

Plugin System

PinchKit comes with a curated set of plugins pre-installed and configured. Each plugin adds specific capabilities to your AI assistant.

GitHub Integration

Repository management, code operations, and issue tracking

  • Create repositories
  • Commit and push code
  • Manage issues and PRs

Vercel Deploy

Deploy web applications and static sites

  • One-click deployments
  • Environment management
  • Domain configuration

Render Services

Cloud service management and monitoring

  • Service deployment
  • Log monitoring
  • Environment variables

EVM Wallet

Ethereum blockchain interactions

  • Token transfers
  • Smart contracts
  • DeFi operations

Hosting Options

Local Development

Perfect for development, testing, and personal use. Runs on your local machine with full access to all features.

openclaw start --local

Self-Hosted

Deploy to your own VPS or cloud instance. Full control over your infrastructure.

# Install on Ubuntu/Debian
curl -fsSL https://pinchkit.ai/install | bash

# Configure systemd service
sudo systemctl enable openclaw
sudo systemctl start openclaw

PinchKit Plans

Fully managed hosting with one-click deployment, monitoring, and support. Light ($8/mo) and Pro ($49.99/mo) tiers available.

Get Started

API Reference

OpenClaw provides a RESTful API for programmatic access. Perfect for integrations and custom tooling.

GET/api/status

Get the current status and health of your OpenClaw instance.

POST/api/chat

Send a message to your AI assistant and receive a response.

GET/api/plugins

List all available and installed plugins.

View full API documentation

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Installation fails with permission errors

The installer may need elevated permissions to install global dependencies.

curl -fsSL https://pinchkit.ai/install | sudo bash

OpenClaw won't start

Check that your Anthropic API key is set and valid:

echo $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

Plugins not working

Ensure the required API keys are configured for each plugin you want to use. Check the plugin documentation for specific requirements.

Getting Help

Need more help? Our community and support team are here to help:

Join Discord CommunityReport Issue